Jeep and Mopar offering industry first off-road camper trailers

Jeep® and Mopar® are setting up camp for off-road enthusiasts. They will be the first in the industry to offer customers off-road camper trailers.

"The Jeep brand is widely known for providing its customers with a sense of freedom and adventure, with a mix of vehicles to take them wherever they want to go," said Mike Manley, President and Chief Executive Officer – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Thanks to our friends at Mopar, the Jeep experience may now be taken to a new level. Families may hook up an off-road Jeep camper to their capable Jeep vehicle and enjoy an ultimate outdoor adventure that no other manufacturer can offer."

Designed to meet off-road capabilities of Jeep 4x4 vehicles, Jeep Trail and Extreme Trail campers incorporate Jeep Wrangler’s rugged design cues, including Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels (with 5-lug by 5-inch bolt pattern to utilize most Jeep vehicles’ spare tire), taillights, fender flares, rear bumper (Trail Edition camper only), badging and hood-tie downs. In August, both Jeep camper trailers may be ordered at local Jeep dealers through Mopar®, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.

“At Mopar, we are always looking for opportunities to support and add value to our Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck brands, and this is a great example of how we can do that,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and Chief Executive Officer – Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care. “Our trailers are specifically designed and engineered to meet strict capability requirements of Jeep. Mopar will continue to offer features that enhance the customer’s experience with our brands and our vehicles.”

2011 Outback to have Wi-Fi connectivity!

Subaru has announced that it is now the latest automaker to offer Wi-Fi connectivity in its vehicles. The offering will start with the 2011 Subaru Outback crossover with the company’s new Subaru Mobile Internet system.
The system creates a Wi-Fi hotspot inside the Outback giving internet access to 10 or more users for up to 150 feet around the vehicle.

“Operating on the 3G network and working with all Wi-Fi enabled devices, Subaru Mobile Internet provides users a safe, fully encrypted connection with download speeds averaging 400kbps-1.2mbps,” Subaru said in a statement. “This uninterrupted Wi-Fi capability is designed for passenger access while the Outback is in motion.”
Power by Autonet Mobile, the world’s first in-car internet service provider, the option comes as a dealer-installed accessory for $499 plus a $35 activation 5. A one-year subscription will run you $29 per month, with the first three months of service offered for free.

Share Your Journey with Jeep TripCast

Jeep just launched TripCast, an iPhone app that lets people plan their next journey and share it with friends in real-time. You don't need to be a Jeep owner to use it and take advantage of its "points of adventure," a database of 250,00 outdoor recreation spots in the U.S. You can also use it to post photos, videos, audio clips, and status updates of your trip. Those updates can be accessed through the app, through the Jeep TripCast Web site, or automatically uploaded to your Facebook or Twitter account.

It looks like a fun way to create a multimedia scrapbook for your next trip. Privacy controls let you determine whether you want to make your entries private, invitation only, or public. A map shows where each item was posted. Download it for free from the iTunes Store. It works with the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4.

Better Business Bureau Warns Of Car Scam

Posted: Jul 7, 2010 9:21 AM

The Better Business Bureau of Central & Eastern Kentucky is warning car shoppers to beware of websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals on repossessed cars.
The scam, going on nationwide, uses the names of well-known existing auto dealerships to try and fool consumers into wiring them money to pay deposits. Customers ultimately eceive no vehicle and have no way to get their money back.
"The latest scam crossing our radar in our service area uses the name Superstore Used Cars, or the website www.superautosalesus.com, and gives an address in Hazard, Kentucky," said Neil Kingery, President & CEO of the BBB of Central & Eastern Kentucky. "We have received many calls and e-mails from hopeful consumers outside of Kentucky checking out this non-existent dealer in Hazard because of the low, low prices offered for these repossessed vehicles. They tell us they were being asked to wire money via Money Gram to pay deposits."
Consumers tell the BBB they saw the advertisement for Superstore Used Cars and its Website either by searching the Internet or in small advertising publications in their areas, far away from the location the scammer fraudulently gives as its Kentucky address. The same website was also recently associated with a dealer name and address out of Louisville, but since changed to the 800 Morton Blvd., Hazard. Some customers say phone numbers they were given for the company do not work.
At last check, the website www.superautosalesus.com was gone from the Internet. However, other BBB's across the nation also report the same scam has popped up across the Internet with different domain names, so consumers should be aware of the red flags of this scam:



RED FLAGS
·The prices are too good to be true. Repossessed or no, it's not likely you will find a late model vehicle at a price well below market value on a legitimate company's website.
·The dealer only accepts payment by money wire transfer. Never wire money to anyone that you do not know well and trust completely.
·You are told to wire the money to an individual rather than the company. The scam artist explains this is in order to "avoid taxes." No legitimate auto dealer will advise you to do business in this manner.
·The dealer communicates only through on line chat or e-mail, never by phone.
"Many legitimate automobile dealers also offer their inventory on their company's Websites," Kingery said. "If you prefer to shop around online for cars, we suggest shopping with BBB Accredited Businesses who have met strict ethical standards, which includes a commitment to resolving customer disputes.
Log on to www.bluegrass.bbb.org and click on the 'Find a BBB Accredited Business' tab to search for a list of BBB Accredited automobile dealers in our 64-county service area."

Subaru sales set June record

With a vehicle manufactured in Lafayette leading the way, Subaru of America Inc. has posted a record June sales report.

The company sold 21,601 vehicles last month -- a 16 percent increase over the 18,620 units it sold in June 2009.

The top-performing Outback line -- produced at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. plant -- sold 6,554 units last month. That represents a whopping 76 percent increase over the same month in 2009.

"June was a great month for us. Our inventories are very tight and we still set a record for the month," said Tim Colbeck, senior vice president of sales at Subaru of America. "Demand for our products continues to be strong, and our retail network is working hard to sell efficiently."

According to a report released Thursday by the parent company, sales of other vehicles built at SIA show:

•The Legacy line experienced almost a 1 percent increase, from 2,984 units in June 2009 to 3,006 last month.

•The Tribeca recorded a 78 percent decline, to 175 vehicles in June after selling 784 units in the same month last year.

Among Subaru vehicles produced in Japan, June sales of the Forester model increased by 25 percent, to 7,607 last month. Sales of the Impreza line fell by 16 percent, to 4,259 units.

For the first six months of 2010, Subaru reported 125,960 units sold. That represents a 35 percent increase over the 93,306 vehicles sold during the January-June period of 2009.

Among SIA-built models, sales of the Outback soared by 117 percent, to 41,147 units; and sales of the Legacy rose by 50 percent, to 18,993.

"Now that we are halfway through 2010, the Subaru franchise is clearly on pace to establish another record-setting sales year," said Thomas Doll, executive vice president with Subaru of America. "This has been the best first six months in the history of the company, and we are proud of the contribution from all members of the Subaru team."

2011 Subaru Forester Better Fuel Economy!!!

• All-new engine for Forester 2.5X models (turbocharged 2.5XT retains current engine); new

bore/stroke dimensions with slightly longer stroke; displacement slightly larger (2,498 cc vs.
2,457 cc); chain driven double overhead cam vs. belt driven single overhead cam before; 170
horsepower is same as before, at slightly lower rpm; torque is up to 174 lb.-ft. at 4,100 rpm
(vs. 170 @ 4,400 rpm); fuel economy is improved: 2011 manual and automatic transmissions
-- 21 mpg city / 27 mpg highway vs. 2010 20/27 for manual and 20/26 for automatic.
• New 2.5X Touring positioned above Limited: features HID headlights (low beam) with
automatic height adjustment; display audio system with backup camera; dual zone automatic
climate control; silver finish roof rails; electroluminescent gauges, and side mirrors with
integrated turn signals.
• 2.5XT models now include 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Touring, the latter replacing 2.5XT
Limited as top Forester model.
• 2.5XT Premium gets new 10-way power driver's seat.
• Bluetooth® standard on all but base model.
• Backup camera standard on 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring as part of new audio system.
• New standard audio system for 2.5X Premium and 2.5XT Premium: AM/FM stereo with single-
disc CD player and six speakers; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth® hands free calling and
audio streaming; iPod control capability; USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio capability.
• New optional TomTom Navigation System for 2.5X Premium includes removable 4.3-inch
touch-screen portable navigation device; AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/DVD player and
six speakers; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth hands free calling; iPod control capability
and USB port. Also, a backup camera is available as an accessory with this system.
• New audio system with rear camera for 2.5X Limited and Touring and 2.5XT Touring models:
AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/DVD player and six speakers; 4.3-inch display screen,
Radio Broadcast Data System; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth hands free calling and
audio streaming; iPod control capability; USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio capability. (The
backup camera is standard on 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring and available as an accessory
for 2.5X Limited.)
• Driver's auto up/down window with pinch protection (except base model).
• New 17-inch alloy wheel design for 2.5X Premium.
• New body-color roof spoiler on 2.5XT models